Support for picture-frames.



No. 663,974. v Patented Dec. 18, I900. J. T. MUMFORD.

" SUPPORT FOR PICTURE FRAMES.

(Application filed Apr. 30, 1900.)

(No Mqdel.)

\FIG.2. FIG. 3.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES 'r. MUMFORD, OF CROMWELL, IOWA.

SUPPORT FOR PlCTURE-FRAM ES.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,974, dated December '18, 1900.

' Application filed April 30,1900. stratum 14,996. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. MUMFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gromwell, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Picture-Frames; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to supports for picture-frames, mirrors,and similar articles; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation and inexpensive as compared with some devices used for the purpose.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of a picture-frame suspended by my device. Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1 removed from thewall. Fig. 3 is an end view of a molding such as is often used to suspend pictures from and the upper portion of my device hooked thereon. Fig. 4is a special form or modification of my picturesupport. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line a a in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top view of the friction-bail 9 in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 7 is a modification of the f riction-bail.

Referring to the drawings by reference-numerals, 1 represents a wall in which may be secured the peg 2 in Fig. 1 or the molding 3 in Fig. 3. 4 is the picture-frame to be supported. Near theupper edge of the frame I secure the bracket 5, through which passes vertically the suspending wire or rod 6, the upper end of which is formed with a hook 7, adapted to go over the upper edge of the supporting-molding 3 in Fig. 3, or'where no molding but a peg like 2 in Fig. 1 is used the notch 8 of the hook (best shown in Fig. 2) is placed on the peg close back of the head thereof.

9 is a friction-bail formed with one long horizontal arm 10, embracing the wire 6 above the bracket .5, and a short horizontal arm 11, embracing the wire 6 below said bracket. When this bail is pushed downward, the wire 6 gets loose in the bracket, so that the picture may be raised or lowered to desired height; but if the bail is forced upward then its main bar presses against the bracket, as at 12 in Fig. 1, causing therebya pinching of and friction on the wire which supports the picture-frame. This bail 9 may be turned toward the picture, as in Fig. 4 and in dotted line in Fig. 1. It may also have a pendent rod, like 13, suspended from it pivotally or integrally, as in Fig. 7, by which to tighten and loosen it on a high wall.

14 is a nut screwed onto the lower end of the rod 6 to prevent the accidental separation of the rod and the bracket when not locked by the friction-bail 9.

In the modification in Figs. 4 and 5 the bracket 5 is formed of a single piece of wire, one end of which is formed like a wood-screw 15 for screwing into the pictureframe. Near said screw the wire is formed into the circular coil 16, passed up through the coil at 17, formed into the arm 18, and the coil 19 then returned, forming the arm 20, with the hook 2l'bent over the wire near the screw 15.

From the above description it will be understood that the picture-frame,mirror-frame, or the like suspended by this device may be taken down for cleaning or other purposes and again put up on the wall by simply taking hold of the frame while standing on the floor or on a common chair, as the wire 6 is held by the bracket 5 and friction-bail 9 extended above'the picture. The wireo may be made of various lengths to suit the height of the rooms, and where the wire is not very long it may be screw-threaded so far up that the nut 14 is always near the bracket 5, and the bail will then only serve to keep the rod projecting upward. The bail 9 may also be dispensed with and one nut used above and the other below the bracket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is

1. A supporting device for picture-frames and the like, the same comprising in combination a rod havingits upper end adapted to engage a peg or molding on the wall, a bracket securable to the picture-frame and slidable on the rod, a vertically-movable friction-bail having a long and a short arm embracing the rod,one above and the other below the bracket, said bail being adapted to press against the bracket near its short arm but not near its long arm.

2. In a supporting device for suspending picture-frames, mirrors and other objects, the combination with a bracket securable to the picture-frame and having a verticallyrdisposed hole through it, a rod passed through the hole and having its upper end adapted to engage a peg or molding on a wall, a friction-bail having its ends embracing the rod above and below the bracket, and adapted to press the bracket and the rod into frictional contact when the bail. is pushed in one direction on the wire, and to release the rod when pushed in the opposite direction, and a nut or suitable stop near the lower end of the rod, to prevent accidental removal of the rod.

3. In a suspending device for pictureframes, mirrors, &c., the combination with a rod or wire securable with its upper end to a peg or molding, of a bracket securable to the object to be suspended, and havinga hole for the rod to pass through, and a friction-bail embracing the rod above and below the bracket, and adapted to force the rod into frictional contact with the bracket when the bail is moved in one direction and to release the rod when moved in the opposite direction, said bracket being formed of a single piece of wire, substantially in the manner set forth.

4. In a device for suspending pictureframes, mirrors, &c., the combination with a rod having its upper end adapted to engage a molding or peg on a wall, a slidable bracket securable to the picture-frame and having a hole for said rod, afriction-bailembracing the rod above and below the bracket, and adapted to loosen the bracket when moved in one direction, and to press against the outer side of it and tighten it on the rod when moved in the opposite direction, and a suspended rod or wire secured to said friction-bail for moving it with from below.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES 'l. MUMFORD. \Vitnesses:

W. H. CoRNIsH, E. B. DAVISON. 

